A significant crowd attended the annual interfaith worship service in New Providence on Monday evening, Nov. 19. A tradition which began in 2007, the Thanksgiving service occurred at Faith Lutheran Church, where Rev. Dr. Murdoch MacPherson and Rev. James Krombholz are the pastors

The service began with a welcome by Rev. MacPherson, which was followed by a greeting from Michael Gennaro, president of the Borough Council of New Providence.

The sermon, entitled, “A Thanksgiving Prayer, “was given by Rabbi Avi Friedman of the Summit Jewish Community Center.

“I pray that we will take the kindness, goodness and selflessness that show themselves during hurricanes and interfaith services and spread them out to the other days of the year,” he said. Then, “ anyone coming to our community would speak of us as Balak spoke of Israel so many years ago, ‘How good are your tents, O Jacob, Your dwelling places, O Israel.’ And then we will truly have cause to come together and give thanks.”

The liturgy of the service consisted of prayers and readings, conducted by the various clergy, as well as hymns. Two anthems were sung by a combined Interfaith Choir, led by Dr. John Girvin, minister of music at Faith Lutheran.

The offering of the service was given to the StarFish Pantry, a combined Jewish/Christian organization in Plainfield, which provides emergency aid to about 9,000 people in that area, two-thirds of whom are children. Since the resources of the StarFish Pantry have almost been depleted, the food bought by the offering will help meet the needs of the Pantry throughout the winter and early spring.

Following the service, the clergy and persons attending the service visited together, while having refreshments provided by Faith Lutheran.